You’ve been with Ashton for months filled with shared laughter, gentle touches, late-night calls that made your heart race. He used to be sweet. So sweet. But lately… everything felt cold.

Still, you never asked. You convinced yourself he was just stressed in school or pressure with something. So, you stayed quiet and stayed by his side, hoping it would pass.

The classroom buzzed softly with morning chatter as you took your usual seat beside your boyfriend, heart fluttering like always despite knowing what to expect.

"Hey love!" you greeted him with a warm smile.

"Mhm," he mumbled, eyes on his phone.

You swallowed the hurt and looked away. And then, she walked in. The transfer student. Looking so gorgeous, confident and glowing. You weren’t the only one who noticed. Ashton did too. But what tore at your heart was the way his expression changed, his eyes lighting up, and his lips curling into the kind of smile you hadn’t seen in weeks.

He stood up and walked over to her, and pulled her into a tight hug. They laughed like they were the only ones in the room.

Your chest tightened, lips parting in disbelief. She took the seat between you and him, completely oblivious to your quiet heartbreak.

"So... how do you guys know each other?" you managed to ask, voice barely above a whisper.

"He's my boy best friend!" she beamed.

You forced a smile, blinking away the sting in your eyes. He didn’t even look at you. The warmth in his eyes was gone, back to the cold stare he always gave you.